Junior shortstop Sara Walker made sure new coach Leanne Shurette got her first win as the Central High School head softball coach Monday afternoon.
In the opener for both teams, Walker hit two three-run home runs as Central rolled past Rhea County, 6-0, in a non-league game at Central.
When Shurette, who succeeded Rick May, took over the Central program she told her Lady Pounders they had to wear either black or purple shoes – not white ones like Walker wore last season.
So Walker made her 2010 season debut with new purple cleats. After she hit her second home run over the center-field fence, someone in the crowd yelled, “It must be the shoes.’’
“I think that was it,’’ Walker joked after the game. “They sure are bright.’’
After two outs in the bottom of the third, Central leadoff Dawanna Posley was hit-by-a-pitch. Brooke Womack then reached on an error, leading to Walker’s first home run.
In the fifth, Sammie Braley led off with a single for the Lady Pounders and Brooke Eller was then hit-by-a-pitch. After two fielders choices, Walker hit her second shot to center field.
“Both were high pitches and both were kind of slow,’’ Walker said. “I just waited on them. Normally that’s a weak point for me, but today I was able to wait for some reason.
“It’s good to get the season off with such a good win.’’
Central sophomore pitcher Shelby Willard gave up only two hits and struck out 13. Womack had a double for Central and Willard also contributed a single.
“It was a good team win,’’ Shurette said. “We made some good adjustments at the plate, Shelby did a good job and we unleased Sara. She’s so consistent and never says a word – she just does her job.’’
The Lady Pounders will play host to Ooltewah on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Shurette, formerly Leanne Mongar, will be going against her former coach – Ooltewah’s Norma Nelson.
“I would like to have saved those two home runs for Ooltewah, but I’ll take them,’’ Walker said.
LINESCORE
Rhea County…….000 000 0 – 0 2 1
Central…………..003 030 x – 6 5 3
J. Freels, Kinrannon (7) and Thompson; Willard and Sowder.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)